Gloucestershire Archery Society formally adopted the GNAS policies on the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults and on Equal Opportunities at its Management Committee Meeting in May 2004. Its Child Protection Officer is:

Mike Addis,
6 Arkle Close,
Wymans Brook,
Cheltenham, GL50 4RE

Phone: 01242 511751

E-mail: mikeaddis@btinternet

All Associated Clubs of GAS should by now have taken the same action, that is they should have formally adopted the above GNAS Policies and have appointed a trained Child Protection Officer. It is also considered appropriate for a Club to have a trained Deputy Child Protection Officer.

The County is able to provide Child Protection Awareness Courses approved by GNAS. These courses are normally held twice yearly at The Chantry, in Thornbury, and are presented by GNAS accredited trainers. The courses are intended for coaches, judges, Club Child Protection Officers and any adult archer who works regularly with children and vulnerable adults. If you are interested in attending one of these courses (the fee is £5.00) please contact the County's Child Protection Officer, Mike Addis, whose details are given above. Attendance at such a course is a mandatory step in the renewal of any GNAS coaching certificate. Please note that Child Protection training courses offered by other organisations (eg Local Authorities or Scouts) are not recognised by GNAS for coach renewal purposes, with the exception of those courses provided by Sports Coach UK [link].

In addition, coaches, Club Child Protection Officers, and those working regularly with children and vulnerable adults should obtain periodic clearance to do so from the Criminal Records Bureau. Application for a CRB check must be submitted through GNAS (the cost is born by GNAS). Existing coaches will be supplied automatically with a CRB application form by GNAS as part of the process of renewing their licence to coach.

Child Protection is about ensuring best practice. Further details on the GNAS Policy on the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults can be obtained from GNAS. In particular, the Policy Guidelines (which can be downloaded as a PDF file from the GNAS web site) set out the steps which should be taken by any GNAS Club to ensure best practice.

You may also find it useful to consult the web site of the Child Protection in Sport Unit (CPSU) http://www.thecpsu.org.uk/Scripts/content/Default.asp.

The CPSU has also published a coaches' charter which sets out good practice. This can be accessed by following the "Sports professionals" link on the CPSU web site.

If you suspect child abuse, then you should raise the matter in confidence with your Club's Child Protection Officer, alternatively you should contact the County Child Protection Officer, Mike Addis, whose details are given above.